Cobram bowling sensation Dane Gade flew the town’s flag at last week’s Victoria Open in Shepparton.
The state’s premier bowling event was held in the Goulburn Valley for the final time this year, with Gade plying his trade alongside bowlers from across the state.
Making it to finals round two in the men’s triples event and the quarter-final of the men’s pairs, Gade produced good bowling across the tournament.
Losing by just two shots in the pairs quarter-final alongside Berwick’s Joshua McQueen, Gade came close to the semi-finals, however unfortunately could not get the job done.
While Gade flew the flag in the final rounds he was not the only connection to the region in the tournament, with the Cobram Bowls Club hosting action in the early rounds.
Welcoming teams in the mixed pairs, men’s pairs and men’s singles brackets, the club opened its doors to bowlers from across the state.
Competing alongside Gade at the event were a number of locals, with Jenny Warfe taking part in the women’s singles tournament and Andrew Giblin and Braidon Johnson joining forces in the men’s triples.
While nobody representing Cobram took home silverware, a number of Goulburn Valley bowlers did.
On Wednesday, East Shepparton’s Stacey Collier and Tallygaroopna’s Mark Ryan took home the mixed pairs title by a shot, while on Thursday Shepparton Golf’s Alan Dove joined forces with Yarraville-Footscray’s Wayne Roberts to lift the men’s pairs title by seven shots.
To round out the impressive district showing, Tallygaroopna duo Guy Madigan and Ryan took out the men’s triples event alongside South Bendigo’s Matt Robertson, with a 16 to nine triumph.
Outside of the Goulburn Valley victories there were a number of travelling talents that went home winners.
In the men’s singles, Deer Park’s Jay Bye-Norris secured a six-shot win, while in the women’s singles City Memorial’s Jenny Moloney overcame her opponent by nine shots.
On Thursday night, Melbourne Cricket Club’s Denise Huender and Alison Hall joined forces to take out the women’s pairs competition.
Earlier in the day Hall played alongside fellow MCC member Samantha Robin and Broadbeach’s Leeane Poulson as they downed a side featuring Numurkah’s Helen Brache for the women’s triples title.